Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1887-01-29
RAYS FROM THE RANGES.
How Stock is Doing at Home, and in
Other Parts of the Territory.

| How Stock IS Doing at Home, and in
Other Parts of the Territory.
Reports from cattlemen in this vicinity
| are of the most encouraging character
Cattle are poor, but rustic well. The now
fall Sunday night of several inches, was
followed by a driver" which laid bare the
grass and will give sufficient feed. Sheep
are doing well and are in good condition.
Following will be found reports from dit
ferent points in the territory.
BILLINGS Gazette: The recent reports of
mortality among cattle in the pan handle
of Gallatin seem to be unfounded. Late
arrivals from there inform us that there is
but little snow and the cattle are in SPLEEN
did condition.
Miles City cor. Montana Stock Journal:
1t is always unpleasant to be the bearer OF
bad news and to make predictions of dis
aster, but from what can be learned from
stockmen who have just arrived from the
range it is feared that the loss of cattle in
eastern Montana will be much greater this
NlIlteI tHdI We CApeCtStl. LII 10 hiloHh
that quite a number have already persisted,
and it is rather early for stock to succumb
to the wintry blast. Mr.. Sanborn says that
we cannot have weather favorable enough
to save us from a loss of Is per cent, and
with the weather that we may reasonably
expect the percentage will be much great
er. Mr.. Osgood, manager OF the Atlantic
Cattle Co., whose range is on the north
side of the Yellowstone, says the same
statement will apply to his and his neigh
boris ranges. The truth is, ranges near
here were badly overstocked last year.
Buffalo Echo: Coming in from his saw
mill on Crazy Woman, near the mountains
Dick Richter says that cattle have worked
into the hills and the timber in that vicinity
and are doing finely, with every prospect
of pulling through in first-class shape.
Fl. Shaw special, Oath: Last nights
storm was general, extending through
Augusta, Choteau, Gorham, Chestnut, Sun
River and this section. From one to four
inches of snow fell. This morning a strong
wind from the northwest sprung up and
lasted until about noon, which was sue
ceeded by a southwest wind which is now
prevailing. Cattle are getting along very
we'll, and cheering reports are still coming
in. Gorham reports that the ranges have
been clear of snow until last night, when
about one inch fell. Cattle and sheep in
that section are doing well. Small losses
are reported. Some few cattle have drift
ed into the bottom, but a general summing
I'D shows a very small pereentage of losses,
and the situation SO far looks very promis-
ing throughout the different sections heard
from.
Yellowstone Journal: Reports that
come in from the ranges are OF the most
conflicting and contradictory nature, it not
being unusual that two well informed and
observing persons from the same locality
will give widely different views on the
subject. From all that can be cleaned and
sifted it is evident that thus far this winter
there is nothing to encourage any feeling
of distress as to the condition of our hardy
native cattle or those who have wintered
here.
Lewistovn cor. Independent: The heavy
fall of now during the past two weeks has
been very damaging &c the stock interests
of this county, especially to cattle, Every
where the snow is from a foot to eighteen
inches in depth. Cattle are looking thin
and are at the point of starvation. Some
have already died, but the loss is not heavy
as yet. A chinook wind has been blowing
for tw%enty-four hours, but it is feared it
will not last long enough to clear mach
ground, and should it turn cold and crust
the snow, the Loss of cattle will be incalcu-
liable. Most OF the sheep men are fairly
well provided with shelter and hay, so that
not much loss is anticipated by them.
Horses are in good condition yet, but it
lhey have to paw through the snow, even
some of them will perish
Stockgrowers Journal: In conversation
with a gentleman who has been more or
less connected with cattle and who has
lived in the territory for twenty years, we
learn that snow without wind, as we have
had it this winter, is not productive of cat
tie losses such asssome parties argue for
the cattle business. He remembers that
about twenty years ago, when the snow
was about 215 feet ON the level and the
mercury very low, and remained so for
quite a period. crusting- the Stow very
heavily, that a;;400 head Of work cattle
were turned hose in the early part of
December on Sun, River, and thai they
came out in good condition in the spring,
the loss being some old steers.
Restored.
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